Broadside Collisions

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys for Injured Individuals in Queens

In an average year, there are over 5,000 motorcycle accidents in New York, resulting in many fatalities and injuries. Many of these avoidable events are the result of broadside collisions, often caused by drivers who fail to watch out for motorcyclists when driving. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one because someone else acted carelessly, the motorcycle accident lawyers at The Cassisi Law Firm can help. We have assisted injured individuals in Queens, as well as the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Nassau and Suffolk Counties, over the course of the last three decades. Let us help you pursue the compensation that you need.

Common Causes of Broadside Collisions

A broadside collision refers to any crash in which one vehicle strikes another vehicle on the side. They are also referred to as “T-bone” accidents because the vehicles at the point of impact resemble a “T” formation.

These types of collisions often occur at intersections, in parking lots, and at driveway or parking lot outlets. When a driver is making a turn, entering an intersection, pulling out into a road, or changing lanes, that person may broadside an oncoming motorcyclist if he or she fails to notice a motorcycle, fails to yield the right of way when required, or runs a stop sign or red light. Unfortunately, broadside accidents are fairly common with respect to motorcycles because their reduced physical profile means that drivers often overlook them. In these cases, the person who commits the traffic infraction may be held liable for the accident under the theory of negligence.

Seeking Compensation through a Negligence Claim

Negligence is a specific civil legal cause of action that can be brought against another party for a personal injury. To prove negligence, the accident victim must show the presence of four factors. The defendant must have owed a duty of care to the victim, the defendant must have breached the duty, the breach must have caused the accident, and the victim must have suffered actual damages.

Since every driver has a duty to obey all traffic laws and observe appropriate standards of good driving, someone who causes an accident through a traffic violation often can be held liable for the injuries that result. This is because failing to obey a traffic rule generally constitutes a breach of the duty of care. In terms of compensation, damages may be sought for items such as:

Hospital bills;

Future medical expenses, including long-term care;

Pain and suffering;

Lost wages and income, as well as future income potential;

Loss of consortium;

Permanent disability; and

Property loss or damage, such as repairs to a motorcycle.

In the tragic event that a motorcyclist is killed, the estate of the deceased person can instead bring a claim for wrongful death, a cause of action that applies when negligent conduct results in a loss of life. There are limited time windows to bring either an ordinary negligence action or a wrongful death claim, so you should not delay in taking action to preserve your right to compensation.

Discuss Your Motor Vehicle Collision Claim with a Queens Lawyer

If you have been hurt in a car accident or other motor vehicle collision caused by a driver’s negligence, the Queens attorneys at The Cassisi Law Firm are prepared to assist you. We have extensive experience helping victims pursue recovery for their injuries, whether that means dealing with insurers or filing suit against private individuals or large corporations. You can count on us to be diligent and aggressive in asserting your rights. To set up a free consultation to find out how we can help you, call us at (718) 441-5050 or use the online form on this website.